Benefactors offer essential support throughout the community, especially during COVID-19
In a bright display of logos, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT regularly acknowledges our benefactors—the over 30 organizations that contribute above and beyond their Chamber membership to support the work we do in the business community.
Their support is vital for our programs that benefit small businesses and the community as a whole, such as workforce development, economic growth, support for nonprofits, promotion of tourism, and representation of the region’s interests in Hartford. Benefactors support events that bring government officials to speak, gather professionals for networking, and inform business owners on prescient topics.
Benefactors are the backbone of the Chamber, and now under the extreme pressures of the COVID-19 crisis, we see how they are the backbone of our community.
Keeping us healthy
The medical professionals in our region have been quick to respond to this crisis. They made preparations by setting up drive-up testing sites and educating the public about the best way to stop the spread of the virus. A special thank you to our front-line healthcare workers at our hospitals, Lawrence + Memorial in New London and Backus in Norwich.
Pfizer committed its resources to fight COVID-19 by sharing tools and insights, marshaling its people, and offering drug development expertise and manufacturing capabilities. Pfizer shared in mid-March that they are working with BioNTech SE on a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer medical professionals may volunteer as healthcare workers and maintain their full pay, benefits, and position through the company’s Global COVID-19 Medical Service Program.
Keeping us in-the-know
Local newspapers, The Day and The Bulletin, are working under difficult circumstances to keep us informed in a fast-moving news cycle. It is at these times we are heartily reminded of the value of strong local news sources.
Our other benefactors offer expert knowledge to businesses. Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law worked with the Chamber for a seminar on the CARES Act.
Professionals at Charter Oak Federal Credit Union, Chelsea Groton Bank, Dime Bank, Liberty Bank, People’s United Bank, Putnam Bank, and Webster Bank are helping business owners navigate the new federal and state programs to find the best solutions for economic assistance.
Keeping us connected
Benefactors Atlantic Broadband and Comcast have stepped up to keep us connected to our jobs, community and families. They have put measures in place to keep their networks up and running, and they are working with individuals and businesses to weather these tough times.
The utility companies we rely on are making sure the power stays on and the supply is steady: CMEEC, Dominion Energy, Eversource, Groton Utilities, and Hocon Gas.
Overcoming a difficult time, together
Thanks to our benefactors and members, the Chamber is able to provide resources to small businesses in this difficult time. We’re providing timely information on economic assistance programs, regular teleconferences with government officials, workshops, and opportunities to connect. ChamberECT.com offers links to resources, an informational blog, and promotion of businesses operating in this new climate.
For many of our benefactors in the tourism and entertainment business, this is a time of sacrifice and upheaval. The Mohegan Tribe and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation have worked cooperatively with the state government at great cost, making drastic efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Mystic Aquarium and our travel partners Aer Lingus and Cross Sound Ferry are also feeling the impacts of the shutdown. We appreciate all that these benefactors have done to support us in the past, and invite the region to offer their support in the future, when eastern CT returns to being the state’s favorite tourist destination.
We deeply appreciate the exemplary work being done by these organizations and the contributions they have made that enable the Chamber to serve the business community.
Our strength in eastern CT has always been our sense of community and willingness to pull together in tough times. While these times are unprecedented, the powerful resolve of our community and country is not. We have a history of uniting to overcome tragedy. Working together, we will soon return to a vibrant, strong economy.
Learn more about Chamber of Commerce Eastern CT benefactors: click here.
Visit ChamberECT.com/coronavirus-updates for links to resources or reach out at info@chamberect.com or 860-701-9113 to connect with Chamber staff.